Josh Barnett revisits old rival Pedro Rizzo

http://mmajunkie.comUFC, PRIDE and K-1 veteran Josh Barnett (22-5) is perhaps one of the least-known commodities in the upper echelon of the heavyweight division to American fans. But if Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio has his way, “The Babyface Assassin” will soon be a household name.

The first roadblock on that journey is the first man ever to beat Barnett, the heavy-handed Pedro Rizzo (16-7).

“One of my goals is to make Josh famous here (in America), as well,” Atencio said. “I think that he deserves the recognition.”

For his part, the one-time UFC heavyweight champion downplayed the importance of recognition in his homeland.

“I didn’t do this to become famous,” Barnett said. “I did it because I wanted to be the baddest guy on the planet.”

Barnett has long been considered among the most talented heavyweights in the world. At just 24, the Washington native defeated MMA legend Randy Couture to become the UFC’s heavyweight champion in 2002. A highly controversial steroid scandal followed, and Barnett left the UFC to compete in Japan.

The bout with Rizzo will be just Barnett’s second appearance in the U.S. since his victory over Couture.

“I think to see [Barnett] fight over in Japan, everybody knows him there, and it’s wonderful,” Atencio said. “But I think his recognition, he deserves it here. I think if anybody does, Josh absolutely does.”

Barnett built his status in Japan by defeating such luminaries as now-UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the iron-jawed Mark Hunt, and fellow Affliction participant Aleksander Emelianenko, among others. Now Barnett hopes to build on his status in the U.S. by defeating Rizzo — one of only three men ever to defeat the 30-year-old catch-wrestling wizard.

“There is a little bit of a stink on this match, just to even up the score between the two of us,” Barnett said.

Barnett and Rizzo have developed mutual respect for each other, as well as a bit of a friendship in the seven years since their original UFC 30 battle. Barnett said that relationship means little once the bell sounds.

“[Rizzo] is a great guy, and I think combat forges sort of a brotherhood that you can’t really achieve through other means,” Barnett explained. “I think it’s a way to become fast friends. … In this scenario, as soon as my music cuts in, I have no friends. The only person that’s there to help me out is in my corner, and that’s it. Everybody else has to go.”

There has been some speculation that a victory for Barnett would earn him a match-up with the winner of the Fedor Emelianenko vs. Tim Sylvia WAMMA-heavyweight-title bout, but Barnett refused to lend his own perceptions of future plans.

“The way I operate is I don’t look any farther than the fight in front of me,” Barnett said. “I can do all the plotting and planning and wishing and hoping. … But the thing is, none of that is guaranteed. The only thing that’s guaranteed is that fight right in front of me. That’s going to happen. Pedro’s going to show up and try to knock my block off, and I’m not going to let him.”

Whether or not a fighter can become a household name with casual MMA fans without the assistance of the UFC hype machine remains to be determined. But Barnett knows that putting on a battle with Rizzo comparable to their first clash, albeit with a different ending, could begin that process.

“You know, I’m a different fighter than I was back then, which is pretty clear,” Barnett said. “Every fight is going to be a little different. I hope it’s fast and in my favor. However it turns out, I just hope that everybody is going to be on their feet like they were the last time.”

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